Based on the memoir of Beverly Donofrio, the plot follows Beverly (Barrymore) from 1965, when she becomes pregnant at age 15, to 1986, when her son has grown up and she has completed her book. The story is more concerned with the way parents treat their children, however, and Beverly doesn't emerge as the spunky super-mom who prevailed despite the odds. Instead she comes off as a whiner who blames her loser husband Ray (Zahn) for getting her pregnant, her own parents (Woods and Bracco) for not talking to her, and even her son Jason (Garcia) for merely being around. Barrymore gives a good performance, but Zahn outdoes her by breaking his "goofy guy" typecast and adding texture to the woeful Ray.